NHS reforms mean pharma needs more holistic, localised approach

Survey emphasises need to address wider needs of stakeholders in local economies following implementation of Health Bill

A holistic approach driven by patient outcomes is a key priority for England's newly set up clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), according to a new survey.

The CCGs, set up to replace primary care trusts and strategic health authorities, also emphasised long-term value focused on population needs of local economies and social functioning as key aims within their new remit to provide commissioning services in the country.

The findings will have repercussions for the pharma industry, according to Equip Communications, which carried out the survey, as companies will need to take a different and broader approach to marketing treatments, addressing a much wider range of needs with stakeholder groups who are “more interdependent than ever before”.

Such a strategy means pharma companies will need to look beyond clinical trials, and instead learn how to develop a marketing approach that takes into account healthcare economies on a local level.